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DISCOURSE 



ON 

■1 



SOME EVENTS 



OF THE 



LAST CENTURY, 

DELIVERED IN THE BRICK CHURCH IN 

NEW HAVEN, 

On Wednesday t January 7, i8di. 



By timothy DWIGHT, D. D. 

PRESIDENT OF YALE COLLEGE. 

" — - . 



COPT RIGHT SECURED, 



NEW HAVE^r^^^^^' 

PRINTED BY EZRA READ. 
180I, 



■l9 



ADVERTISEMENT. 



THE aiidie?2ce, to whom this discourse 
was addressed, will perceive, that it differs, in 
so?iie places, from what they heard from the 
desk. To explain the reason of this, they are 
reminded, that the discourse, as delivered to 
them, was the second of two, originally designed 
for the Students of Tale College ; and that it 
was preached in the Brick Church, instead of 
the College Chapel, at the request of the Rev, 
Dodlor Dana. As it referred in several pla- 
ces to the former discourse, it became 7iecessary 
to alter and enlarge it, when the design of pub- 
lishing it was formed, that the obscurity arising 
from those references might be avoided. 



'>-r+T"H"H"i-i"H'-H"H"H-+T-T-{- O .i_;-H-4-i-H";-l"i-i"l-+-i-+4-;"J-i"H- 

I 

A DISCOURSE. 



DEUTERONOMY, XXXII. 7. 

Remember the days of old ,• consider the years of many 
generations ; ask thy father, and he will shew thec^ 
thy elders, and they will tell thee. 

1 HE works of God may be confidered 
as a texr, on which his word is the comment. In 
creation and providence we learn what is done, 
and in the fcriptures why it is done. This inftruc- 
tion is as truly furnilhed by the events of the paft 
year, or the paft century, as by thofeof the days of 
Mofes, or of the centuries before the deluge. The 
only important difference is found either in the pe- 
culiar magnitude of particular events, or in the flcill 
ot thofc who comment on them. Great events are 
not only more important, but more inftrudive, 
than little ones ; and enlightened men can better 
derive inftruftion from them, and better commu- 
nicate it to otiiers, than men unenlight'sned. In- 
fpired commentators, fuch as the fcriptural writers 
were, could underftand, and teach, the nature and 
ufc of providence certainly and exa^ly ; other .men 
partially, and with uncertainty. By them each part 
of the fubjeft was underflood, fo far as they were 
diredled to explain it ; by others only the great and 
prominent parts. Their inftrudions, therefore, are 
unerring, and far more excellent and ufeful than 
our relcarches ^ yet thefe are not without their ufe ; 
nor are we exculed from the duty of endeavoring to 
derive knowledge and wifdom from the works of 
God. Imperfcfl as our inveftigations muft be, 
they will neverthelefs prove, if we are difpofed 
aright, of no fmall advantage. 



On this groutid, it is prefumed, Mofes direfc- 
ed the Ifraelites to apply each to his father, and to 
the elders, for inllrudlion concerning chofe things 
which exifted " in the days of old and the years of 
preceding generations." Thefe perfons were all, 
or chiefly, uninfpired, and were of courfe capable 
of only reciting fa6i:s, and making on them judi- 
cious obfervations. Yet thefe fafts and obferva- 
tions were confidered by Mofes, and by the God 
who taught Mofes, as deferving to be known, and 
as ufeful, when known, to valuable ends» 

In the 107th Pfalm, the infpired writer calls 
upon mankind " to praife the Lord for his good- 
nefs, and for his wonderful works to the children 
of men :" that is, for the wonderful works of his 
providence to mankind. To engage them to the 
efFe6lual performance of this duty, he giver, them 
an example of it in this very Pfalm ; and recites to 
them five different fpecimens of the providential. 
condu6t of God, as proper fubjefts of their invefti- 
gation, and proper themes of their praife. Thefe 
all are fpecimens of his ordinary providence. Thus 
the Pfalmift teaches us, and with great beauty, 
eloquence and piety, that his ordinary providence 
is thus wonderful, and thus deferving of their at- 
tention an,d praife. But the common providence 
of God to the Jews v/as no miOre deferving of this 
regard than his providence to us, nor in the time of 
the Pfalmift any more than at the prefcnt time. It 
is always the providence of the fame Jehovah, the 
refult of the fame wifdom and goodnefs, and equal- 
ly claiming our admiration and gratitude. Corref- 
pondently with this fentiment the Pfalmift elfe- 
where declares, generally, that " the works of the 
Lord are great, honorable, and glorious, and fought 
out of all them that have pleafure therein."* Ifai- 
ah alfo afcnbes the grofs finfulnefs of fome men to 
§, neglcft pf due reg-ird to the works of God, and 



to the operation of his hands. f The Pfalmift car- 
ries the thought ftill farther, and declares thai ** be- 
caiife men regard not the work of the Lord, nor 
the operation of his hand, he fhall deftroy them, 
and not build them up."J 

To us, as to our fellow men, thofe works of 
God which we beft know, and can moft deeply 
feel, are peculiarly proper fubjeds of this inveftiga- 
tion. The events, therefore, of the paft Century 
being well known, and ftrongly felt, by us, muft in 
an eminent degree partake of this propriety. Moft 
of all, the events, which during this period have 
taken place in our own country, merit our prefent 
confideration. Thefe we know better, and cannot 
fail to feel more deeply, than any others. Permit 
me, therefore, to mention fome of them for your 
prefent confideration. 

Through more than half of the paft Century 
France polTefTed a great part of the eaflern fide of 
North America, and claimed moft of the remain- 
der. Great Britain held the reft. In the fucceed- 
ing period Great Britain acquired all that was pof- 
fefTed by France, and loft almoft all which fhe ori- 
ginally polTefTed. On the territory, which fhc loft, 
has been erefted a new empire ; the firft civilized 
ftate, formed on the weftern Ihore of the Atlantic. 

The greatnefs of the changes, which during 
the Century under confideration have exifted in the 
affcurs of this country, may with fome advantage be 
exhibited in the following manner. 

In the year 1700, five of the United States 
were mere forefts, without a civilized inhabitant. 
Thefe were Vermont, Kentucky, North Carolina, 
TennefTee, and Georgia. New Plampfhire con- 
tained eight incorporated towns, out of two hund 

"f Chap. V. vei, 11, iz, % P^* xxvlii. 5. 



red and feven which it now contains -, Maffachufetts 
eighty, out of four hundred and four ; and Con- 
ne(5licut twenty eight, out of one hundred and eight. 
New York, New Jerfey, Maryland, and Virginia 
had far fewer fettleinents than New England j and 
in Pennfylvania^ Delaware, and South Carolina, 
fcttlements were fcarcely begun. 

The manner, in which thefe Colonies were at 
that time regarded in Europe, m.ay in fome mtaV- 
ure be learned from the two following accounts : 
The firft is taken from a work of CluveriuSy a Dutch 
Geographer, and was publiflied in 1697 j the other 
from Heyliriy a Britilh Geographer, and Vi'as pub- 
liflied in 1703. 

Cluverius himfelf does not even mention 
thefe Colonies, except under the general name of 
Virginia J and this he barely mentions. But Reif- 
kius, one of his annotators, obfervcs, that New En- 
gland contains feveral villages, and four cities ; of 
which Newport (Neuf Havre) the public feat of 
the Parliament (of New England) Bofton, and 
Cambridge the feat of a College, are the chief. — 
The other regions, he obferves, are rifing from ob- 
fcure beginnings by means of new Colonies. 

Of Virginia the fame annotator obferves, that 
it borders on New France, derived its name moft 
probably fiom Queen Elizabeth, is a barren and 
ill cultivated country, ill furniilied v/ith harbours,* 
and has a town called Medano. New Belgium he 
mentions alfo, as fubdued by the Englifli, and as 
containing New York, and the fortrefs of Albany. 

Bung, another annotator on the fame writer> 
fays, that Nev/ England and New York lie between 
New France and New Virginia, and that New 
York borders on New Vir^nnia. 

* Oi' without an^' haibour, mf>orfuofu/;:. 



Hey LIN fays, that "New England lies be- 
tween 40 imd 41 degrees of North latitude, 70 miles 
on the ocean, which affords it plenty of harbour." 
This Colony, he remarks, is very flrong, and has 
built feven great towns; the chief of which is Eof- 
ton, which in 1670 had 50 fail of ih\ps belonging 
to it. He defcribes this town as large and fpacious, 
and as built at the bottom of a large bay, on three 
hills, on which are raifed fortifications, with cannon 
mounted and well guarded. Thefe fhips, he fays, 
are firft employed in fifhing, and then, compound- 
ing a freight of corn and other commodities, they 
pafs to the fouthern plantations. 

He further mentions New England as a part 
of Virginia, as the moft flourifliing of the Britilh 
Colonies, and as containing at leaft 42 towns ; ot 
which he fays, " St. George's Fort, New Plymouth, 
Briftow, Barnftable, Bofton, Quilipiac, Charlef- 
town, Dorchefter, Cambridge, (which has feveral 
ftreets, two Colleges, and divers fair and well built 
houfes) Reading (which he mentions as advanta- 
geoufly built near a pond, and by means of this fit- 
nation as peculiarly fortunate in having one mill 
for corn, and another for timber) and Salem, are 
tlie chief." New Hampfliire, Rhode Ifland, and 
Connefticut, are not named by him. Of the other 
Britifh Colonies he fays, among various remarks, 
that they have but one or two towns a-piece. 

Such is the defcription, then given in thole 
parts of Europe, where it was beft known, and by 
profeffed geographers, of a country, now an inde- 
pendent empire ; inhabited by more than five mil- 
lions of people ; employing near a million of tons of 
fhipping, in a commerce, of which the exports, in 
i8oOj amounted to about ninety millions of dol- 
lars; cultivating about fixty millions of acres; and 
poffeffing a confiderable influence in the great af- 
fairs of mankind. 



From the beginning of the Eighteenth Cen- 
tury to the year 1763, thele Colonies were affefted 
by every war, in which Great Britain was involved 
againft France. Nor were their ftruggles, their 
expenfes, their dangers, or their loffes, fmall. 
France, from an early period after the difcovery of 
North America, had caft her eyes on this country 
as a moft defiraiDle acquifition. According to the 
then acknowledged law of the European nations, 
the fole right of the preemption and fettlement of 
the country was in Great Britain. France, howev- 
er, at an early date pafTed up the river St. Law- 
rence, and planted a Colony at Quebec ; whence 
fhe foon ftretched her arms fouthward, on the in- 
terior of the Britilh fettlements, fo far as almoll to 
complete a chain of fortreffes from Canada to the 
mouth of the MifTifippi. The turbulent ambition 
of her kings, which, as may be feen by the flighteft 
examination of hiftory, has, from the time of Clovis, 
kept Europe in an uproar, and the world in confu- 
fion ; and the furious zeal of her hierarchy, impa- 
tient to fubjugate mankind to the Romifii fee ; 
aimed at nothing lefs than the entire extirpation of 
the Britilh Colonifts. For this purpofe her agents, 
civil, ecclefiaftical, and military, v/ith that aftivity 
and perfeverance, that flexibility of morals, and that 
fafcination of manners, for which they have been fo 
long and fo eminently diftinguiflied, laboured v/ith 
intenfe exertions, through more than the firfh half of 
the Century, to acquire over our anceftors every 
advantage, and to infiid on them every fufFcring. 

In this work of death and deva-Ilation they 
embarked the great body of thofe favages, who 
bordered on our frontiers. To the third for war, 
inherent in thefe wild and unfeeling peoplb, were 
now added by their employers all the inducements, 
which can allure and engrofs a favage mind, the 
applaule and honour conferred by the fplendid and 
the powerful, the prefcnts which moft eflentially 



relieved their wants and flattered their ambition, 
prices promifed and paid for the fcalps of the En- 
glifli fettlers which they fhould produce, and re- 
wards, moil interefting to them, for all the cruel- 
ties which they fhould inflift, and all the ruin which 
they iliould accomplifn. 

The evils, produced by this fyfbem of mif- 
chief, were immenfe. By the regular and infidious 
attacks of the French on the one hand, and the 
folitary ambuiliments and midnight incurfions of 
the Natives on the other, thcfe Colonies were kept 
in an unceafing alarm and convulfion. The night 
rung v/ith the v/ar-whoop, and the day finoked with 
the conflagration of churches and private dwellings. 
The labourer at his work, theflumberer in his bed, 
and the congregation at their worfliip, were attack- 
ed and deft:royed. The fmile of the infant, the 
bloom of the virgin, and the locks of the hoary 
head, alike furniihed no prote6tion from the pro- 
mifcuous carnage. It was not war, but aflTaffina- 
tion and butchery ; butchery extended over a coun- 
try ; butchery contrived and ftimulated in a pro- 
feiTedly chriftian cabinet, and honoured and reward- 
ed in a profefledly chriflian metropolis. 

In the progrefs of thefehoflilities, vafl multi- 
tudes of our countrym.en were deftroyed, and an 
amazing fuccefTion of miferies fuffered, until the re- 
duction of Canada," and the peace of Paris, put, in 
1763, a period to our calamities, and placed a 
fpeedy renewal of them beyond the power of our 
enemie-8. 

But, although this fcourge had ceafed to op- 
crate, our chaflifements were not ended. When a 
people is to be punifned, the means of infliction in 
the providence of God are always at hand. Soon 
after the peace. Great Britain adopted towards this 

B 



so 

country a new, unfounded and cpprcfTive fyftem of 
policy; a fjftenn equally repugnant to the fenti- 
mentsofthe AinericanSj and to thofe of great num- 
bers of her own bcfl: and Vv'ifeft citizens. The 
alarm was inftantly founded through the Continent, 
and a firm oppofirion deterniined on by the great 
body of the Colonifts. Provoked, but not difcour- 
aged, by this unexpe6led refiftance, the Britifli gov- 
ernment increafed the exorbitance of their claims, 
and the unreafonablenefs of their mealures, until 
they iffued in 1775, in open war, begun at Lexing- 
ton. 

On our part this war was profecuted with vaft 
difficulty, and with various fuccelfes and difafters. 
The fufferings which it created v/ere numberlefs and 
immeafurable. Our tov;ns were burned, our fields 
wafted, our houfcs plundered, and our foldiers in 
great numbers perifhed by fickncfs, by the fword, 
and by the hard-handed oppreffion, famine, and 
difeafe, of prifons and prifon-fhips. Our country 
was impoverifhed, and the furviving inhabitants 
were haraffed with continual alarms, driven from 
their dv/ellir>f;S by invafion, and diftreffed by anx- 
iety and fulpenfe to a degree which experience 
only can comprehend. At the fame time a great 
part of our country was wafted by difeafe, little lefs 
affliftive than the peftilence. A depreciating cur- 
rency, alfo, fundering the bonds of amity betv.'een 
man and man, deftroying the grounds of confidence 
in dealing, perplexing the fenfe, and relaxing the 
ties, of juftice; and infufing into all human inter- 
courfe apprehenfion and diftruft, harrafled the peace 
of fociety, and threatened with no liiiall probability 
its utter ruin. But the fame glorious Being, who 
had watched over lis from the beginning with pe- 
culiar care and tcndernefs, terminated at length the 
fufferings of this war, alfo, by the final eftablifli- 
ment of our independence, and a final deliverance 
from our adverfaries. 



II; 

Thk embarrafllnents of our country were, 
however, not yet brought to an end. No fooner 
was the peace concluded, than the debt, which we 
had contracted during the war, began to create uni- 
vcrfal perplexity and alarm. This widely fpread- 
ing evil extended its malignant influence through 
public and private concerns alike, affefted every 
citizen and every tranfiidtion, and reached equally 
the great affairs of commerce and the minute bufi- 
nefs of the firefide. The weaknefs and inefficiency 
of the exifting Government, faihioned in the Vv^ild 
moments of enthufiafm, and founded on vifionary 
ideas of patriotifm, became alfo a new and moil 
diftreffing fource of univerfal perplexity.' The 
larger, and particularly the commercial. States, 
throwing oflf all regard to a government, whofe bonds 
were a parchment, and whofe energy was a requefir, 
began a fyilem of oppreiiive commercial regula- 
tions, and fported with the privileges of their lefs 
powerful neighbours. 

In this period of peril and anxiety the fame 
good providence took us again by the hand, and 
conduced us from the brink of civil war, and the 
verge of diflblution, to fafety and peace. While 
all hearts were trembling, and all hands feeble, a 
general Convention was propofed, probably as a 
mere expedient, to avert odium, and avoid a tem- 
porary embarraflrnent, and not as a foundation of 
permanent union and happinefs. The propofa], 
however, caught the attention, and acquired the 
approbation, of the Continent; and, within a fliort 
time, originated in peace, and through calm delib- 
eration, the prefent American Conilitution. This 
fcheme of Government, foon after it was publiflied, 
was generally adopted by the feveral States, and 
fpeedily commenced its operations. No event 
could have been more timely, more honourable to 
our country, or more declarative of the fuperintcn- 
dence of God. Other governments have ufually 



12 

been compelled by conqurft, or hurried into being 
by civil war; ours was voluntarily formed by cool 
confultation and Ibber conviction, was the offspring 
of the general choice, and the objeft of unextorted 
approbation. 

Under this government we have enjoyed un- 
exampled profperity, and long continued peace; 
and might, it would feem, long pojGTcfs thefe blell- 
ings, if we could be contented to be happy, and 
would difcern, in this our day, the things which 
belong to our peace, before they are hidden from 
our" eyes. 

In the year 1700, there were one hundred and 
fixteea incorporated towns in New England, and 
probably about 80,000 inhabitants. Tliere are 
now about eight hundred and fixty towns, and pro- 
bably ij^oOjOOO people. In thefe towns there are 
not far from one thouland three hundred religious 
consregations, of different denominations of Chrif- 
tians. In Maflacnuietts and Conneflicut there are, 
if I have numbered them accurately, one thoufand 
and eight fuch congregations, of which feven hund- 
red and forty nine are furniflied with the preaching 
cuftomary to the feveral clafTes. The emigrants 
from New England and their defcendants, who 
have fettled in the other States, may be reckoned 
at half a million. The people of New England 
have therefore doubled, notwithilanding their al- 
moft incefiant wars, within a little lefs than tvv'enty 
three^years, on an average. The v,/hoie number of 
original Coloniils is computed at 2.0,000. 

Within New England, alfo, there are in all 
probability not lefs than four thoufand fchools ; in 
which about 1 30,000 children of both fexes, are con- 
tinually educated. Seven Colleges are alio erefled 
in this country, of v.'hich the five, firfl efcabliihed, 
ufually contain about 700 Hudents. 1 he lail year. 



'3 

upwards of 200 ftudents were admitted into theic 
five fcminaries. 

The wealth of the New England States has 
much more rapidly increafed than the number of 
inhabitants, and, fince the exiftence of the prcfent 
American Government, much m^ore rapidly than 
at any former period. In*prcof of thele aflertions, 
if they can be fiippofed to need any proof, may be 
allt-ged the fences, the herds, the cultivation, the 
public and private buildings, the drefs, the furni- 
ture, the mode of living, and the bufinefs, of the 
inhabitants. If we except Great Britain, we pof- 
fcfs more than half the fhipping, owned by any 
country in Europe. Our exports cannot be accu- 
rately eftimated, becaufe a large part of them is 
fent abroad from the port of New York ^ but thofe, 
which we dire6lly convey to foreign countries, are 
very great. In the mean time it is probable, that 
abundance is more univerfally found in our houfes, 
barns, and cellars, than in thofe of any other peo- 
ple. We do not, therefore, pofTcfs merely, but 
eminently enjoy, alfo, the bounties of Providence. 

Health has ufually exified here, iji a de- 
gree, not often equalled, and pt-rhaps never exceed- 
ed. In fome towns it appears, by long continued 
regifters of births and deaths, that one out of four 
and one out of five, extenfively one out of fix, and 
generally one out of leven, of thofe who are born, 
live to feventy years of age ; and that half, of thofe 
who are born, live to twenty years. 

The internal peace of New England, the har- 
mony of the inhabitants with each other, and with 
their government, has been almofl uninterrupted. 
One c(.nfiderable interruption has indeed exifted 
for a fhort time, and only one ; except fuch, as 
have been originated by thofe who were not inhab- 
itants. The people of this country have appeared 
always to underfiand diftin^flly, what has moft 



14 



ufually not been underftood at all, the perfedt con- 
fiftency of being free and being governed. 

The plenty, which I have mentioned, has in 
every period abounded here, with hardly an excep- 
tion. A fcarcity of food has been rarely known ; 
a famine never. This plenty, and indeed the 
wealth generally, lias been more equally diftributed 
than in any other country, and as equally, as prob- 
ably can be, amid the prefent unequal endowments, 
and e^jertions, of men. The number of public 
poor, it is prefumed, is not greater than one, out 
of four hundred, of the inhabitants ; a fafl equally 
uncommon and delightful. 

Public crimes at the fame time have been 
few J and moft of thefe have been committed by 
fuch, as were not natives. Law, except at the 
commencement of the Revolution, has not been 
interrupted for a moQient by the choice of the cit- 
izens. 

All thefe things, united, conftitute a mafs of 
blelTings, rarely, if ever, feen in the prefent world. 
How great ought to be our gratitude to that glori- 
ous Being, who has fo eminently diitinguilhcd us 
from the great body of mankind ? Ought we not, 
with the enraptured Pfalmift, to fay, " He hath 
not dealt ib vsnth any nation" ? 

Among the fubje6ts, which claim a fhare of 
our attention on this day, the feminary of fcience, 
in which a confiderable part of my audience have 
fo intimate a perfonal intereft, is clearly one. It 
was founded, fo far as that term is predicable of 
the firft donation made, in the year 1700. The 
firft charter was given in Odober 170 1, and the 
firft public Commencement holden 1702. It was 
then, and for feveral years after, a mere wanderer 
from town to town, and was not finally fettled in 
this place until the year 17 17. 



15 

Within the firfl: thirty years after it was in- 
ftitnted there were graduated 217 fludents i which 
is cxaflly the number belonging to the four claflcs, 
at the beginning of the prefent year. Since that 
time, there have been graduated h( re 2568 perfons ; 
of whom 2326 were educated in this fttminary. 
Of this number 136 have been advanced to the 
high offices of magiftracy and government ; and 
786 have been ordained to the miniilry of the Gof- 
pel J almod all of whom have been men of ac- 
knowledged piety and evangelical life. Great 
numbers have, in early life, been occupied by the 
inftruftion of youth ; have, together with others, 
been afterwards members of our ov/n and of oth'^r 
legiflatures ; hav^ fate on the bench of juftice ; 
have ufefully filled the profe/Tions of phyfic and 
law ; have fuflained with reputation the inferior 
offices of magiftracy ; and have perform.ed for their 
fellow citizens that immcnfe variety of public bufi» 
nefs, which, without any appropriate name, exifts 
every day, and in every place. The importance of 
this inftitution may eafiiy be feen in thefe fafts; 
particularly in this ; that it has furnifhed the preach- 
ing of the Gofpel, and the means of the regular 
public worfliip of God to feven hundred and fixty 
congregations, probably confifting of more than 
600,000 perfons, who would not otherwife have en- 
joyed thefe bleffings. Hence is evident the wif- 
dom of our anceftors in founding the inftitution, 
and the good nefs of God in giving it birth, and 
continuing and enlarging its profperity. 

The progrefs of knowledge, it will befuppo- 
fed from the literary eftablifhments, has been ref- 
peftable j probably not inferior to the fame prog- 
refs in the enlightened countries of Europe. Wc 
are indeed far behind thofe countries in learning, 
and the fpeculative fciences. This, I apprehend, 
is no difhonour to our country. Great literary and 
fcientifical attainments cannot be made without 



i5 

great ieilure, as well as great talents and applica- 
tion. Such leifure is rarely found here. No am- 
ple literary foundations are furnifhed here for the 
fupporr of ingenious and fpeculatjve men, in the 
purfuits of learning and fcience. No inilitutionj 
exift, on which genius may. undifturbcd and fecure, 
indulge itfelf in the field of mere learning, or mere 
fcience. All men, here, are, and mull be, men of 
bufinefs, and take Ibme adlive part in human affairs. 
The knowledge which qualifies for this, is imbib- 
ed by great multitudes to a refpc-ftable degree ; 
while the people at large are furniihed with infor- 
mation, it is believed, beyond thole of any other 
country. A child of fourteen, who cannot read, 
write, and keep the cuftomary accompts, is rarely 
met with ; and a great part of thofe, who arrive to 
adult years, read to a confiderable extent. 

The religion of this country has exhibitc*^. sl- 
very commendable fpirit of catholicifin and mode- 
ration during the pafb Century, a fpirit extended 
perhaps as far, as can be reafonably expefted from 
men, and producing a general and happy harmony 
of fentiment and conduft. In no country, it is pre- 
fumed, can be found a more general decency and 
liberality of condu6l in the various clafles of reli- 
gious towards each other. Indeed, the exifting 
error appears to be a tendency, in many perfons, 
towards what is emphatically called modern liberal^ 
ity; which is no other than mere indifference to 
truth and error, virtue and vice : a more dangerous 
and fatal character than the moft contemptible en- 
thufiafin, or the moft odious bigotry. Toleration, 
ftricliy underftood, has no exiftence here ; for all 
religious denominations are placed on the fame 
equal and independent ground. This, if it can be: 
prefcrved, as there is hitherto much reafon to be- 
lieve, is certainly an improvement in human affairs, 
and ous[ht to be regarded both as an honour, and 
a bleiT.ng, to our country. 



In the courfe of this period God has, in va- 
rious inftances, been pleafed to revive his glorious 
work of lanflification, and to extend it through 
many parts ot the land. I know that a number ot 
men, and fome of much refpecflability, have enter- 
tained unfavourable ideas of what are called revivals 
of religion J but I cannot help thinking their opin- 
ions of this fubjeft rather formed in the clofet than 
derived from fads, or warranted by the fcriptures. 
Seafons of enthufiafm about various fubjeds have 
indeed often exifted, and probably in every civili- 
zed country. In thefe feafons the human mind 
has not unfrequently exhibited many kinds and de- 
grees of weak nefs, error, and deformity. Hence, 
perhaps, fober men have, in fome inftances, been 
led to believe that wherever enthufiafm exifts 
thefe evils exift alfo. As therefore revivals of reli- 
gion have frequently been more or lefs accompa- 
nied by enthufiafm, they have, I think without fuf- 
ficient grounds, determined, that all which exifted 
was enthufiafm, and that nothing would flow from 
it but thefe evils. 

That the mind under the firft clear, ftrone:, 
and folemn views of its own fins ihould be deeply 
affedled, and greatly agitated, is to be expeded 
from the nature of man. He is always thus afFe<ft- 
cd by the firft ftrong view, taken of any objed 
deeply interefting, and always thus agitated when 
fuch an objed is feen in an uncertain, fufpended 
ftate. No objed can be fo interefting, or more en- 
tirely fufpended, than the ftate of the foul in the: 
cafe fpecified. 

When thefe emotions, thus excited by objeds 
of fuch imiTienfe importance, and in fo abfolute a 
ftate of fufpenfe, as the guilt, the condemnation, 
and the falvation, of an immortal mind, are attend- 
ed with fome degree of enthufiafm and extrava- 



it 

gance ; when they arc followed by feafbns of deep 
defpondence, and fuccefllve tranfport j nothing 
takes pUce, but that, which found philofophy mull 
prefuppofe ; as fimilar ennotions are, in all fimilar 
cafes, followed, cfpecially in ardent minds, by the 
fame conftquences. All this, however, will go no 
length towards proving, that nothing exifts beyond 
enthufiafm ; and that, amid feveral irregular and 
exceffive exertions of the mind, there is not to be 
found a real change of the difpofition, a real af- 
fumption of piety. To me it is evident, that re- 
vivals of religion are often what they are called, if 
not always ; and that the proof abundantly exifts 
(where alone it ought to be looked for) in the real 
and permanent melioration of the moral chara6ler 
of multitudes, who then becom.e ferious and pro- 
fefledly religious. 

Of th.e laft of thefe revivals of religion, that 
which ftill extenfively exifts, it ought to be obferv- 
ed, that it has abfolutely, or at leaft very nearly, 
been free from every extravagance. I fpeak not 
here to infidels, nor to libertines. All religion is 
extravagance, enthufiafm, and fuperftition, with 
them. But no m,an of common candour can hefi- 
tate to admit, that vice is not the only fober and 
rational ftate of a mioral being ; and that impiety ii 
an unhappy proof of real williom. In this great 
and aufpicious event of which I have fpoken, thou- 
fands have been already happily concerned, and 
thoufands more will, it is hoped, hereafter claim &> 
fhare. 

But, with the reft of mankind, we have abuf- 
ed cur bleflings. Loofe opinions and loofe prac- 
tices have found their place here alfo. The firft 
confiderable change in the religious c]iara6Ler of 
the people of this counrrv was accomplifiied by the 
war, Vs^hich began in 1755. War is at leaft as fa- 
tal ro morals, as to life, or hnppincJs. The ofticers 
and foldiei-s of the Bricifh aniiies, then employed in 



this country, although probably as little corrupted 
as thofe of moft armies, were yet loole patterns of 
opinion and conduft, and were unhappily copied by 
confiderable numbersof our own counirynnen, united 
with them in military life. Thefe, on their return, 
fpread the infcdion through thofe around them. 
Loofer habits of thinking began then to be adopt- 
ed, and were followed, as they always are, by loofer 
conduct. The American war increafed thefe evils. 
Peace had not, at the commencement of this war, 
reftored the purity of life, which exifled before the 
preceding war. To the depravation ftill remaining 
was added a long train of iaimoral dodrines and 
practices, which fpread into every corner of the 
country. The profanation of the Sabbath, before 
unufual, profancnefs of language, drunkennefs, 
gambling, and lewdnefs, were exceedingly increaf- 
ed i and, what is lefs commonly remarked, but is 
perhaps not lefs mifchievous, than any of them, a 
light, vain method of thinking, concerning facred 
things, a cold, contemptuous indifference toward 
every moral and religious fubjeft. In the mean 
time, that enormous evil, a depreciating currency 
gave birth to a new fpirit of fraud, and opened nu- 
merous temptations, and a boundlefs field for its 
operations ; while a new and intimate correfpond- 
ence with corrupted foreigners introduced a multi- 
plicity of loofe dodtrines, which were greedily em- 
braced by licentious m.en, as the means of palliating 
and juftifying their fins. 

At this period Infidelity began to obtain, in 
this country, an extenfive currency and reception. 
As this fubjeft conilitutes far the moft interefting 
and prominent charafteriltic of the paft Century, 
it will not be amifs to exhibit it with fome degree 
of minutenefs, and to trace through fevcral particu- 
lars the fteps of its progrefs. 

IxFroELiTY has been frequently fuppofed to 
be founded ca an, apprehended deficiency of the 



•20 

^svidenee, which fupports a divine Revelation. No 
opinion can be more erroneous than this. Thac 
iblitary inftances may have exifled, in which men 
did not believe the icriptiires to be the word of 
God, becaufe they doubted of the evidence m their 
pofTeilion, I am ready to admit ; but that this has 
been the common fa6l, is, at leaft, in my view, a 
clear impofTibility. 

Our Saviour informs us, that "This is the 
condemnation, that light is come into the world, 
and men loved darknefs rather than light, becaule 
their deeds were evil :" and fubjoins, that " he who 
doth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the 
light, left his deeds fliould be reproved." Here 
one of the two great caufes of Infidelity is diftinftly 
and exa6i:Iy alleged, viz. T'bc cppcjiiion of a hearty 
which loves ftn, and dreads the puniffjment of ii^ to 
that truthy liohichy 'with infinite authority ^ and under 
an immenfe penalty y demands of all men a holy life. 
The ouher great caufe of Infidelity is frequently 
mentioned by the infpired writers, particularly St. 
Paul, St. Peter, and St. Jude. In the following 
paffages of St. Peter it is exhibited with peculiar 
force. " For when they fpeak great fwelling 
words of vanity, they allure through the lufts of the 
flefh, through much wantonnefs, them that were 
clean efcaped from them, that live in error. While 
they promife them libertv, they themfelves are the 
fervants (bond-fiaves) of corruption." *' There 
iliall come in the laft days fcoffers, walking after 
their own lulls, and faying, Where is the promife 
of his coming ? for, fince the fathers fell afleep, all 
things continue as they were from the beginning 
of the creation." 

The Infidels, here referred to, are plainly 

philofophijis ; the authors of -vain and deceitful pki- 
lofophy ; of fcience falfelyfo called , always full ef 
vanity in their difcomfes : Scoffers, walking after 
their own hiflsy and alluring others^ through thefama 



21 

lujis^ to follow them-, promijtng them liberty ^ as their 
reivard^ and yet being themfelveSy and making their 
difcipleSy the loweji and mofi wretched of all fiaves, 
xhtflaves of corruption, Philojopbifiical pride, and 
the love of finning injeciirity and peace ^ are, there- 
fore, the two great caufes of Infidelity, according 
to the fcriptiires. 

A MORE exa<5l account of this fubjeft, as ex- 
ifting in fad:, could not even now be given. Infi- 
delity has been aflunned becaufe it was loved^ and 
not becaufe it was fupported by evidence , and has 
been maintained and defended, to quiet the 7nind in 
fin^ and to indulge the pride of talents and /peculation. 

The form, which it has rec^eived, has varied 
in the hands of almoft every dillinguifhed Inndel. 
It was firft Theijm^ or natural Religion ^ then mere 
Unbeliefs then Animalijm^ then Scepticijra^ then par- 
tialy and then total Alheifm. Yet it has, in three 
things at leaft, preferved a general confillency ; op- 
pofition to Chriflianity ^ devotion to fin and luflj and 
a pompous projeffion of love to Liberty. To a can- 
did and logical oppofition to Chriftianity, confiding 
of fafls fairly ftated andjuflly exhibited, no reafon- 
able objection can be made. It is to be wifheJ, 
that this had been the conduct of the oppofition 
a£tu ally made; but nothing has been more unlike 
that conduft. The war has been the defultory at- 
tack of a barbarian, not of a civilized foldier ; an 
pnfet of paffion, pride, and wit; a feint of conjec- 
tures and falfified facls ; an incurfion of fneers, 
jefts, grofs banter, and delicate ridicule ; a parade 
of hints and infinuations ; and a vigorous aflfaulc 
on fincy, paflion, and appetite. Thefe were never 
the weapons of fober conviction ; this was never 
the conduft of honed men. 

In the earlier periods of this controverfy there 
were, however, m.ore frequent efforts at argumen- 
tation, on the part of Infidels. For the laft twen- 



ry or thirty years they fcem to have defpaired of 
fuccefs in this field, and have betaken themfelves 
to that of adlion and influence. In this field they 
have wrought with a fuccefs totally unprecedented. 
Nor is this at all to be wondered at, if we confider 
the opportunity of fucceeding prefented to them, 
during the latter half of the lafl Century, by the 
ftate of fociety in Europe. The cxcefTive wealth 
of that divifion of the eaftern Continent has gener- 
ated an enormous luxury, the multiplied enjoyments 
of which have become not only the ruling objefls 
of defire, and the governing morives of aflion, but, 
in the view of a great parr of the inhabitants, the 
neceflary means of even a comfortable exifhence. 
On thefe life is employed, ambition faftened, ar- 
dour exhauiled, and energy fpent. Voluptuouf- 
nefs and fplendour, formed on the Aliatic fcale, en- 
grofs men in public and private ftations, in the 
iiniverfity, the camp, the ihop, and the defk, as 
well as the court and the cabinet. To glitter with 
diamonds, to roll in pomp, to feaft on dainties, to 
wanton in amufements, to build palaces, and to 
failiion wildernefTes of pleafure, are the fuprcme 
objects of millions, apparently deftined to the grave, 
ftill, and humble walks of life, as well as of thofe, 
who were high born, and highly endowed. Sci- 
ence toils, ingenuity is fbretched on the rack, and 
art is wearied through all her refinements, to fatisfy 
the univerfal demand for pleafure ; the mines of 
Golconda are ranfacked, the caverns of Mexico 
emptied, and the mountains of Potofi tranfported 
acrofs the ocean. 

Of this univerfal devotion to pleafure and 
fiiew, modern Infidels have availed themfelves to 
the utmoft. To a mind, to a nation, dilTolved in 
floth, enervated by pleafure, and fafcinated with 
fplendour, the Gofpel is preached, and heaven pre- 
fented, in vain. The eye is clofed, the ear flopped, 
gnd the hvtarc rendered grols and incapable of heal- 



_!1 

ing. The foul isof couiTe, Uinconfcious of danger, 
impatkfnt of reftraint, and infcnfible to the demands 
of moral obligation. It is, therefore, prepared to 
become an Infidel, without refearch, and without 
Gonviftion. Hence, more fagacious than their pre- 
deceflbrs, tlie later Infidels have neither laboured^ 
nor wilhcd, to convince the underftanding, but have 
bent all their efforts to engrofs the heart. 

In the mean time other events, highly favour- 
able to their defigns, have taken place both in 
America and Europe. The American Revolution, 
an augull, folemn, and mod interefting fpeflacle, 
dre\r towards it at this time the eyes of mankind. 
The novelty of the fcene, the enchanting found of 
Liberty, to which the pulfe of man inftindlively 
beats, the fympathy ever excited for the feebler and 
fuffering party, embiirked deeply in the American 
caufe a great part of the civilized world. Benevo- 
lent men, of all countries, hoped, when the conteft 
was ended profperoufly for us, and ardent men 
boldly pronoun.ccd, that a new era had arrived in 
human things, that "the iron rod of the opprefTor 
was broken," and that *' the opprefTed would foon 
be univerfally fet free." 

Among the agents in the American Revolu- 
tion, were many natives of France ; men, in nume- 
rous inllances, of ardent minds, and daring fpecuia- 
tions J who either imbibed here new fentiments of 
liberty, or ripened thofe, which they had already 
adopted at home. Thefe men, returning to their 
©wn country, difFufed extenfively the enthufiafm, 
which they had cherifhed here, and thus haflened 
the crifis, to which France was otherwife approach- 
ing- 

Long before this period, even fo early as the 
year '713, the publication of the bull Unigeni - 
tus had thrown this kingdom into a flame. Two- 
immcnfe parties were formed by the attempts to- 



=4 



e:5JCGutc this editft, which in the end involved th<; 
•whole nation. At the head of one of thefe was the 
King, feconded by the great body of the Clergy ; at 
the head of the other was the parliament of Paris, 
and the provincial parliaments, fupported by the 
great body of the people. Throughout the pro- 
grefsofthiscontroverfy the parliaments and the peo- 
ple gained ground on the royal authority and the 
power of the Clergy ; and, what was of more im- 
portance, they found in their fuccefs full afliirancc 
of future viftories. Future attacks on the crown 
and on the Clergy were encouraged, becaufe thefe 
had fucceeded, and Infidels were too fagacious not to 
avail themfelves of this important dilcovery. Their 
own caule they now artfully, and with complete 
fuceefs, blended with that of liberty ; and, although 
the union was unnatural and m.onftrous, yet they 
were eafily able to prevent this fadl from being dif- 
cerned, even by feme fagacious eyes, during the 
moment of popular phrenzy. 

This junftion was clearly the mofb politic 
fingle fiiep, v/hich they have ever taken. The idea 
was not indeed new ; the Infidel writers of the laft 
Century declaimed largely on this fubjedj but by 
the fober manners and firm eftabiiftiments of that 
period they were wholly prevented from feeing- 
their wilhes realized. Near the clofe of the fuc- 
ceeding Century, however, the enervation of the 
hierarchy, the corruption of courts, the diffolution 
of morals, the enthufiafm generated by the Ameri* 
can Revolution, and the hopes of vanquifhing again 
the kingly power in France, ftimulated in thejr 
fuccefibrs new ardour, and promifed them com- 
plete fuccefs. 

To thefe things ought to be added the publi- 
cation of various latitudinarian dodlrines of reli- 
gion, in moft countries of Europe. Thefe doc- 
trines, by lowering the fpirit of the Bible to the 
corrupt tafte of man, lelTcning the difliKClion be- 



a5 

tween virtue and vice, and rendering the teriTj^ of 
falvation convenient, lowered alio, in the view of 
thofe who liftened to them, the dignity of the fcrip- 
tures, and the importance of chriilianity. In the 
Gvc of fuch men religion degenerated into mere de- 
cency ; and to become acceptable to God nothing 
more was felt, or miftrulled, to be neceffary, than 
to be agreeable to men. All thefe perfons were 
in faft become Infidels without knowing it, and> 
when they renounced the fcriptures entirely, were 
confcious of no change of charadler. 

TfiE door thus opened, Infidels entered in 
mafs, and laboured with a zeal, adlivity, and per- 
feverance, unrivalled fince the days of the apoitles. 
In every polTible inftance they pofTefTed themfelves 
of every office of honour and pov/er, of inftrudion 
and influence i fecured the literary fociety and the 
fecret club, engrofTed the prefs and the ftage, de- 
bauched the prince and the peafant, the noble and 
the ecclefiaftic, deceived thc'aged, and enfnared the 
young. The authority of the monarch, the addrels 
of the courtier, the gravity of the apoftate divine, 
and the abftraft jugglery of the fophiil, the myfte- 
rious trade of the bookleiler, and the humble lef- 
fons of the fchool nnfter, were all employed to fup- 
port, to fpread, and to rivet Infidelity. 

Their writers have been nolefs affiduous and 
perfevering. A part of their labours has been pr^- 
fented to the world under the form of new fyftems 
of philofophy ; which, if believed, are utterly fub- 
verfivc of chriftianity, but in which no dircft at- 
tack is made on chriftianity. Thefe, though ufli- 
ered into public v-ew with great pomp and lolemni- 
ty, have been mere theories of the clofet ; often in- 
genious, but ahvays unfupportcd by fa£t or evi- 
dence. The terms employed in theiii are ib whol- 
ly abftraft, and the phraftology fo myfterious and 
perplexed, that the reader, engaged by the ingenu- 

D 



26- 

hy of the writer, is loft in a mill of doubtful ex- 
prefilons and unfetded fcntiments. His faith is 
conilantly folicited to gravely defcribed drearr.s j. 
and his eye is required to fix on the form of a cloud, 
varying its fiiape through every moment of his in- 
fpeflion. From the highway of common fenfe he 
is invited into bye paths v/here indeed nothing wor- 
thy of his curiofity is ever fcen, but where, he is 
continually informed, fomething, of vaft importance 
is in the end to be feen. Whatever he reads is ut- 
tered with the gravity and confidence of fuperiour 
wifdom, and an impofing air of myftery, and with 
continual hints of fomething, immenfc'Iy important, 
jn due time to be revealed. Thus he v/anders on, 
a dupe to artfully excited expcdlation, and lofes 
liimfelf in '• a wildernefs, where there is no way." 
He is not informed, but allured j not convinced, 
hut perplexed ; yet he is often, perhaps ufually, by 
his own curiofity, pride, and ftif-conuilency, and 
by the doubt and ridicule artfully thrown in againft 
Revelation, fo thoroughly eftranged from truth and 
virtue as never to return. To ruin in this way are 
i'urely led moft readers, of a particular clafs, and 
that a numerous one ; readers, pleafed \v'n\\ reafon- 
ing extended to a certain degree, and conduced 
with a due niixture of brilliancy ; readers, fond of 
novelty, and efleeming fingularity of thought a 
proof of fuperiour underftanding. 

This, iiov/everj has been but one, and that a 
very partial objeft of their reliance* Their writ- 
ings have afilimed everv form, and treated every' 
fubjc6l of thought. From the lofty philcfophicai 
difcourfe it has dtfcended through all the interven- 
ing gradations to tiie news-paper paragraph ; from 
the fermon to t!ie catcchifm; from regular hiftory 
ro the anecdote ; from the epic poem to the fong j. 
and from the formal fitire to the jeft of the buffoon. 
EfFjrts in vaft numbers have alfo been made to dif- 
fufe infidelity in a remark, unexpeftedly found in. 
a dif.ourfe, when a totally different fobjcft was un- 



der confideratlon, in a note, fubjoined to a paper 
•on criticilhi or politics, in a hint, in abookoftrav- 
els ; or a ftroke, in a letter of civility. In thefe 
and the like C^s the reader was intended to be ta- 
ken by furpri^lPand to yield his judgment before 
he was aware, that he was called to judge. The 
number and variety of the efforts have alio been 
increafed beyond example ; have poured from in- 
numerable prefles, and from, all civilize d countries ; 
have been fold at the low.efl: prices, and given gratu - 
itouOy ; and have been circulated with vail indul- 
try, and by innumerable hands, throughout chriften- 
dom. The intention of this amazing niuiritudeof 
exertions has plainly been to aftonifli and difcour- 
age their adverfaries, to amaze and overwhelm their 
readers, and to perluade, infenfibly, the mafs of 
mankind, that the world was coriVcrted to Iniideli- 

But the pen has been a far Itfs important and 
juccefsful infbrument, than adion and influence. 
This has been exerted with immenfe vio^our, em- 
ployed in everyplace, and addrclled to every mind. 
In confequence of the profpeds of triumph opened 
to them, during the latter part of the Century un- 
der confideration, they loudly proclain":c:d them- 
felves the champions of liberty, and the frientis of 
perfecuted man. No knight-errant ever offered 
himlclfto an affrighted damlci with more gencrofi- 
ty, as her proteiflor, than they to the human race. 
The common people, never honoured by Vokairc 
with any higher title than the r;ibblc, or the Uiob, 
yet as they poffeffcd the pliyfical ilrength of man 
fuddenly beheld thefe philanthropic gentlemen 
. ftarting up in the form of their guardians and fofcer 
fathers, and volunteering in the huinane em.ploy- 
ment of vindicating^ their wronG;s and affertinn; their 
rights.. The tak, which in the mind of every fober 
man awakened no eiiiotions but indignation and 
contempt, roufed, Ecrverthelefs, in the feelings of 
tlic ignorant, the a:- lent, and the eathufultir, i 



1% 

phrenzied expeftation of good, unknown indeed, 
but certain and iDntmenfe. An univerfal thrill was 
fclr, a millennium feen already dawning in the hor- 
izon. All the weak, the tender, the doubting, the 
boding, the eager, the daring, pftlGons of the hu- 
man mind were now attacked, fucceflively, by the 
perfuafion of eloquence, the llings of ridicule, the 
parade of argument, the alarm of danger, the hope 
of fafety, and the promife of reward. 

In this great moral convulfion Royalty and 
Chriftianiry funk in the kingdom of France. Em- 
boldened beyond every fear by this aftonifhing 
event. Infidelity, which anciently had hid behind a 
rnafk, walked forth in open day, and difplayed her 
genuine features to the fun. Without a blufh fhc 
now denied the exigence of moral obligation, anni- 
hilated the diftinftion between virtue and vice, 
challenged and authorized the indulgence of every 
,lufl, trode down the barriers of truth, perjured her- 
felf daily in the fight of the univerfe, lifted up her 
front in the face of heaven, denied the being, and 
dared the thunder, of the Alm/ighty. Virtue and 
truth, her native enemies, and the objefhs of all her 
real hatred, fhe hunted from every cell and folitude ; 
and, vv'henever they efcapcd her fangs, Ihe followed 
them Vv'ith the execrations of malice, the finger of 
derifion, and the hiffes of infamy. 

Elevated now, for the firfl time to the chair 
of dominion, Hie ufhered forth her edifts with the 
gravity of deliberation and the authority of law, 
and executed th'^m by the opprelTive hand of the 
jailor, the axe of the executioner, and the fword of 
the warrior. All rights fell before her, all interefts 
were blafted by her breath, and happinefs and hope 
were together fwept away by her befom of deftruc- 
ticn. 

In the midfc of all this elTrontcry, Infidels for- 
got not their arts and impoficions. As occafion 



29 

diftated, or ingenuity whifpcred, they availed thcnn- 
fclves of every difguife, and of every peifuafive. 
As if they had defigned to give the laft wound to vir- 
tue, they afiumed all her titles and challenged all her 
attribuces to their own conduft. Daily forfworn, 
and laughifig at the very diilindion between right 
and wrong, they proclaimed themfelves the affert- 
©rs of juftice, and the champions of truth. Vvhile 
they converted a realm into a Baftile, they trum- 
peted their inviolable attachment to liberty ; while 
they " curfed their God, and looked upward,'* 
they announced themfelves worlhippers of the Su- 
preme Being. With a little finger, thicker than the 
loins of both the monarchy and the hierarchy, en- 
circled with three millions of corpfes, and in the 
center of a kingdom changed into a ftall of flaugh- 
ter, they hung themfelves over with labels of phi- 
lanthropy. Nay, they have far outgone all this. 
Two of their philofophers, independently of each 
other, have declared, that, to eftabliih their favour- 
ite fyftem, the facrifice of all the exifting race of 
man would be a cheap price : an illuftrious inftance 
of Infidel benevolence, and of the excellence of 
their darling maxim, that " the end fanftines the 
means," 

These, however, are but a fmall portion of 
their -arts. They have, as the ftate of things re- 
quired, difguifed their defigns j difavowcd them j 
doubted their exigence ; wondered at thofe, who 
believed them real ; ridiculed the belief; and pro- 
feffed themfelves am.azed at fuch credulity. This 
conduct has been even reduced to a fyftem, and 
taught and enjoined on their followers, as a code 
of policy, and as being often the moft effcflual 
means of fpreading their opinions. 

^NoR have they lefs frequently reforted to the 
aid of obfcure^ unfufpcfted, and apparently undc- 
figned communication. Their do6lrines have, 
with great fuccefs, been propagated by remote hints; 



3Q 

by foft and gentle infinuations ; by half ftarted 
doubts, and half propofed objeftions J and by the 
luggeftion of a train of thoughts in which thofc 
doftrines are taken for granted, and confideied as 
being fo plain, and fo generally received, that no 
perfon can be imagined to difbelieve, or even to 
doubt. The reader himfclf is prefuppofcd to have 
long fince admitted them, as the only do6lrines of 
truth or common fenfe 3 as being too rational and 
candid to hefitate about things fo clear and ac- 
knowledged ; as unqueftionably lifted above the 
reception of the contrary pitiful abfurdities ; and 
as thus prepared to aft, as all other fenfible and lib- 
eral perfons have already afted. Thus their opin- 
ions fleal upon his ir.md in methods equally unfuf- 
pe<5ted and impofing. 

The world, in the mean tlmie, is exhibited as 
having long agreed in admitting them without a 
queftion ; particularly all the learned, irgenious, 
and refpeftable. Thofe, who diflent, are the n^ere 
eanaille ; the refufe of mankind j a contemptible, 
ignorant, bigotted fet of fuperftitious wretches, 
hoiden in fhameful bondage by another fet of mer- 
cenary and defpicable priefts, leagued from the 
beginning to deceive and fleece their fellow men. 
Themfelves, and their friends, are exhibited, at the 
fame time, as the only -people, with whom truth, 
wijdom and benevolence, live and die; the happy 
few, on whom partial Nature has bcftowcd Benja- 
min's portion of talents, tafte, and virtue. 

* It ought by no means to be forgotten, that 
Infidelity has been formed into a regular fchool, in 
which, with unprecedented efforts, the young, the 
ingenious, the unwary, and the licentious, have, 
throuo;h a feries of folemn gradations, been efnared, 
initiated, and entangled, beyond a hope, or wilh to 
efcape. To thefe has been formally committed the 
work of demoralizing mankind ; and all that art 
can devife, ingenuity fugged, or patience mode], 

* See Note A. 



to render mifchief palatable, efficacious, and fure, 
and dcftruftion inviting, and inevitable, has been 
taught by laborious education, fixed by habit, and 
enforced by every motive, which can influence the 
ambition, the fears, and the hopes, of nnen. Thus 
a fcminary has been formed for fin, and a train of 
unhappy beings, educated for evil only, have ifllied 
forth in the charafter, with the feelings, and for the 
purpofes, of fiends, to deftroy truth and virtue, to 
fpread falfhood and iniquity, and to plunge a world 
in ruin. 

As a6lion is declared to be the great mean of 
propagating Infidelity, and reafoning acknowledged 
to be infufficient, it is accordingly communicated 
by the firefide, in the feafon of convivial relaxation, 
in the private and focial meeting, in the fl:reet, in 
the thoughtlefs, unguarded, and fufceptible hour, 
in the moment of danger, of terror, of hope, of 
high ftimulation, and of exquifite expofure. 

Those, who fpread the poifon, are alfo taught 
to afiTume, and put off, any charafler at pleafure; 
and to wear that only, v/hich may fuit the occafion, 
and pleafe the company. They are occafionally 
chriftians, philofophers, fcholars, warriors, plain 
men, men of pleafure, travellers, men of bufinefs, 
and men of idlenefs j are of any party and of no 
party ; and alTert and deny, cfpoufe and oppofe, 
any doctrine, and any caufe ; changing their colour 
even v/hile the eye is fixed on them, and alTuming 
new hues from every new objedl: which attracts their 
attention. 

In all thefe and the like forms, Infidelity has 
been feafoned and fet-ved up ; in all thefe and the 
like metliods, it is infinuated, urged, and forced, 
on mankind. To thefe things ouglit to be added, 
that the magic of the pencil, the fl^ill of the archi- 
tect, the chiftrl of the fcuJntor, tlie gaiety of public 
fcftivals, the pomp of procefTions, the fplendour 



J2 



and fafcination of the theatre, and the aii command- 
ing power of fafhion, have been engaged, and en- 
grofled, to adorn, to folemnize, and to imprefs on 
every mind, the fentiments of Infidelity. Even the 
fair feXj whofe intercourfe and elegance of mind 
have fo exceedingly refined and improved men, arc 
embarked in the great bufmefs of corruption, and 
lend dicir wit, their accomplifhments, and their per- 
fons, to promote the ruin of human fociety. 

Such is the aftonilhing ftate of moral things, 
in feveral parts of Europe, which, within a fhort 
time, has opened upon the view of our countrymen. 
The ftrong fym.pathy which, unhappily, and on no 
rational grounds, prevailed here towards thofe, who 
v/ere leaders in the French Revolution, and to- 
v/ards the Revolution itfelf, prepared us to become 
the miferable dupes of their principles and declara- 
tions. Thev were viewed miCrely as human beings ^ 
embarked deeply in the glorious cauje of liberty ; and 
not at all as Infidels ^ as the abettors of falfijoody and 
the enemies of Right eoufnejsy of Truths and of God. 
Hence all their concerns were felt, and all their 
condutl covered with the veil of charity. Thev 
were viewed as having adventured^ and Juffered^ 
together with oiirfelvesy and as now enlijled for the 
/upport of a kindred caufe The confequences of 
thefe prejudices were fuch, as would naturally be 
expefied. A general and unexampled confidence 
was foon felt, and manifefted, by every licentious 
man. Every Infidel, particularly, claimed a new 
importance, and treated religion with enhanced 
contempt. The graver ones, indeed, through an 
affe£ted tendernefs for the votaries of chriftianity, 
adopted a more decent manner of defpifing it ; but 
all v/ere fccure of a triumph, and fatisfied, that tal- 
ents, cliciraifler, and the great world, were on their 
fide. The young, the ardent, tlie ambitious, and 
the voluptuous, v^ere iri-efirdbly n)licited to join a 
Ciufe, which harmonized with all their corruption?,. 



\ 



33 

pointed out the certain road to reputation, and ad^ 
miniftered the nccefiary opiates to confcience j and 
could not refufe to unite themfelves with men, who 
Jpcke great /welling words of vanity^ who allured 
them through much wantonnejs^ and pronii/ed thera 
the unbounded liberty of indulging every propenfi- 
ty to pleafure. The tinnid at the fame time were 
terrified, the orderly let loofe, the Ibh^er amazed, 
and the religious fhocked beyond example j while 
the floating part of our countrymen, accuftomed 
to fwim with every tide, moved onward in obedi- 
ence to the impulfe. Thus principles were yield- 
ed, ufeful habits were relaxed, and a new degree of 
irreligion extenfively prevailed. 

Happily for us, the fource, whence thefe pe- 
culiar evils flowed, furnifhed us in fome degree 
with a remedy. It was foon difcovered, that the 
liberty of Infidels was 7iot the liberty of New Eng- 
land; that France, inftead of being free, merely 
changed through a feries of tyrannies, at the fide of 
which all former defpotifms whitened into modera- 
tion and humanity ; and that of the immeafurable 
evils, under which (he and her neighbours agonized. 
Infidelity was the genuine fource ^ the Vefuvius, 
from whofe mouth iflued thofe rivers of deftruc- 
tion, v/hich deluged and ruined all things in their 
way. It v/as feen, that man, unreftrained by law 
and religion, is a mere beafl of preyj that licen- 
tioufnefs, although adorned with the graceful name- 
of liberty, is yet the fpring of continual alarm, bon- 
dage, and mifery ; and that the reflraints, impofed 
by equitable lav/s, and by the religion of the fcrip- 
tures, .were far lels burtheufome and diftrelTing than 
the boafled freedom of Infidels. 

Even fober Infidels began to be alarmed for 
their own peace, fifety, and enjoyments ; and to 
ivifh, that other men might continue ftill to bet 
chriUians; while c'uriftians fuw with horror their 

E 



34 

God denied, their Saviour blafphemed, and war 
formally declared againft Heaven. 

To all this was added a complete deVelope- 
mentof the bafe and villainous defigns of the French 
government againft our country, their piratical plun- 
der of our property, and their inhuman treatment 
of our feamen. Perfons, who thought nothing, 
who felt nothing, concerning religion, felt thefe 
things exquifitelyj and rationally concluded, that 
men, who could do thefe things, could, and would, 
do every thing elfe, that was evil and unjuftj and 
that their moral principles, which produced, and 
fan6tioned, thefe crim.es, could not fail to m.erit 
contempt and deteftation. Such perfons, there- 
fore, began now to lean towards the fide of chrif- 
tianity, and to feek in it a fafety and peace, which 
they beheld Infidelity deftroy. 

Thus having in the midft of thefe enormous 
dangers obtained help of God^ we continue until the 
p'ejent time; and this part of our country, at lead, 
has efcaped not only tributary bondage, but the 
infinitely more dreadful bondage of Infidelity, cor- 
ruption, and moral ruin. 

It ought, here, and forever, to be remember- 
ed With peculiar gratitude, that God has, during 
the paft Centurv, often and wondetfully interpofed 
in our behalf, and fnatched us from the jaws of ap- 
proaching deftru61ion. The inftances of this in- 
terpoficion are too num.erous to be now recounted, 
and are happily too extraordinary to be either un- 
known or foFgotct-n. We have been frecjuently on 
the brink of deflrui^lion ; but although caft doivn^ 
wc have not been deftroy ed. Perhaps we have fo 
often been, and are ftiil, fufFered to (land on this 
precipice, that we may fee, and feel, and acknowl- 
edge, the hand of our Prd^rver. 



35 

In fucli a period as the prefent, when the ftatc 
of fociety is fo difturbed, when the minds of men 
are fo generally fet afloat, and when fo many an- 
cient landmarks, fo many ftandards of opinion and 
pradice, arc thrown down j wlun anibition, avar- 
ice, and fenfiiality, deliberate and decree, and vio- 
lence and cruelty are charged with the execution, 
throughout a great part of the civilized world ; a 
contemplative and fenous mind cannot but afk, 
JVhatJhall the end of theje things be ^ 

To fuch a mind it may prove an important 
confolation, to knov/, that all thefe evils have been 
•foretold by Omnifcience, and that they cannot ex- 
tend beyond the Divine permiffion. The prefent 
time is, at leaft in my view, diftinftly marked out in 
prophecy, as a time of fingular deception, fin, and 
hoftility againft religion and againil its author. In 
exaft accordance with Revelation, fpirits of fingu- 
lar falfhood, foulnefs, pertinacity, and impudence, 
have ifTued from the mouth of the Dracron, or fee- 
ular perfecuting power, of the Beafl, or ecclefiaftic- 
al perfecuting power, from which the Church of 
Chrift has fufFered fo intenfely, and fo long, and of 
the Falfe Prophet, the great miniller of this per- 
fecution, and the great enforcer of the edifts of 
thefe monftrous tyrannies. That thefe two perle- 
cuting powers are in the view of the i'criptures whol- 
ly united, and that they entirely cooperate, cannot, 
I think, be reafonably queftioncd. Both of them 
are defcribed as having Jev^n heads, and ten horns. 
From tlie angel interpreter we know, that the /even 
heads are the /even mountains of Rome, the great 
City which at that innt reigned with undivided em- 
pire over the kingdoms of the earth ; and that the 
ten horns are the ten kingdcpsy into which that em- 
pire was finally divided. Thofe ipirits, therefore, 
that is, the falfe teachers defignated by them, were 
to fpring, as they have fprung, from Antichriftian 
ground. 



On the fubje(5t of Antichrift fome things ap- 
pear to me to need further explanation. It has 
been commonly taught, that the Roman Pontiff, 
or perhaps more commonly the Romifh Hierarchy, 
is ibg Antichrift. This, I think, cannot be admit- 
ted without fome qualification. As the oppofer of 
Chrift by way of eminence, (the meaning of the 
original word) this application of the term may t>c 
warranted, v/herher to the Pontiff, or to the Hie- 
rarchy. It has not, I believe, been ufually, and 
with fuflicient deference, remembered, that St. 
John, to whom we are indebted for the word, has 
alfo given us its meaning.. This apoflle informs 
us, that there are many Antichrifts-^ and xki'Mjoine of 
them were in beings when he wrote ^ and that the An- 
tichrift is He^ who denieih, that Jefus Chrift is corns 
in the flefto. As this interpretation is given by the 
fpirit of God, it mufl, of courfe, be implicitly ad- 
niitrcd by Chriftians. But, no man can refufe to 
acknowledge, that^ according to this interpretation, 
the name, Antichrift, is far more juftly applied to 
the colleftive body of modern Infidels, than either 
to the Romifh Hierarchy, or to the Head of it. — 
Neither of thefe ever denied, that Jefus Chrift is 
ccme in the flefto, unlefs by diftant implication ; but 
this is the prime do6lrinc of every modern Infidel. 

The Romifli Flierarchy, or ecclefiaffical per- 
fecuting power already mentioned, is exhibited in 
the fcriptures under various names j as the Beafty 
the Man of fin, the Son of perdition, and the Wicked, 
or ratiier the Lawlefs One. Each of thefe names 
is intended to denote fome particular charafleriftic 
of this power. Thus the Eealt direflly exhibits its 
ferocious, fanguinary, or perfecuting character ^ the 
Man of fin its preeminent v;ickednefs j the Son of 
perdition its certain deltination to fingular perdi- 
tion ; and the Latvlefs One its diftinguifhed refufal 
of being reflrained by the laws of either God, or 
man. 



All thefe terms, it is evident, are in a high 
degree general, and of coiirfe are defcriptive of an 
innmenre colleftion of mankind, diftant in times and 
places, exilting through many ages and inhabiting 
many countries. The hierarchy is formed not on- 
ly of all, who diredly exercife the power denoted 
by it, but alfo of all, who under its'dominion con- 
tribute, by their union with the fyftem, and by their 
phyfical flrength, to the continuance of its being, 
and the furtherance of its defigns : In other words, 
all, who in any, particularly in Romifli, countries, 
through every age of its duration, unite in its oppo- 
fition to true religion, and in the perfecution of its 
votaries. It is manifeft, that, in fome periods, and 
in fome countries, one or more of thefe charaders 
of this power will prevail ; in other periods, and in 
other countries, other charaflers will prevail. This, 
we alfo know, has been the faft. At fuch times, 
and in fuch places, the particular names, which de- 
note fuch charafters, are plainly to be efpecially 
applied to thofe, who live in them. The predic- 
tions, denoted by thefe names, are then eminently 
fulfilled. Nor will it make any difference in the 
juftnefs of the application, or the fulfilment of the 
prediction, whether the original form, of the oppo- 
fition and perfecution be purfued, or a new one. 
The great defign, the general condud:^ is plainly 
the thing, aimed at in prophecy, and, io long as 
this is purfued, the particular fcrm is of no impor- 
tance. 

If then the PontifF were never more to exift j 
if the Hierarchy fhould perifh j and yet the fame 
general defign of oppofing true religion, and per- 
fecuting its votaries, Hiould be continued by other 
hands, and fhould grow out of the original fyftem, 
lo as to be a mere prolongation oi the fame con- 
duct and purpofe, in a differnt mode ; we are not 
only warranted, but necefTitated, by all the rules of 
correal interpretation, to conlider the prophecy as 



Vnvoivingj in the mod complete manner, this part, 
or continuation, ot the general fyilem. 

The prefent oppofition of Infidels in Europe 
to true religion, and their perfccution of its vota- 
ries, is a mere continuation of the general fyftem, 
begun by the Hierarchy in diftant ages. It has 
arifen, and been exercifed, on the fame ground, by 
the defcendantsof the original and moftdiflinguiih- 
ed perfecutors ; it has fprung from the fame fpirit, 
been regulated by the fame policy, is the fame de- 
fign, and has been purfued with the fame, and even 
greater, zeal and cruelty.* 

In conformity with the fentiments, already 
fpecified, it may juftly be obferved, that to the In- 
fidels, who have arifen out of this fyftem, and who 
have cooperated with this great defign, may, with- 
out a reafonable doubt, and with lingular propriety, 
be applied the name of the Lawlejs One ; as beyond 
example lawlefs, and fpurning at every reliraint 
from God, or man. Their coming, alfo, is preemi- 
nently with all deceivablenefs (or deceit) of un^ 
righteoufnefs ; they and ail their converts are plain- 
ly the fubjeds of Jlro7ig]ud\c\2\ delufton; fince they 
have eagerly believed a lie, and enjoyed a fupreme 
pleafure in unrighteoujnefs. 

In the fame evident manner it appears, that 
no times could ever with fo much propriety be cal- 
led "perilous times, as the prefent times. Never 
were men fo entirely lovers of their own f elves, cov- 
etous, hoafiers, proud, blcifphemers, dijobedient to pa- 
rents, unthankful, unholy ; Without natural affection, 
truce breakers, falfe accufers, incontinent, fierce, de- 
Jpifers of thofe that are good ; Traitors, heady, high 
ininded, lovers ofpleafures mere than lovers of God.f 
In contemplating this amazing complication of 
falfhood, fin, and mifery, it is a ftrong confolation 

* See Not9 B. f z Tvn. 3 Chn^^, 



39 

to every good man, to know, that the Lord jhall 
deftroy this Wicked, or Lawlefs One, this wonderful 
lyltem of evil, with the breath of his mouthy and the 
brightnejs of his appearifig. 

This deilru£lii:)n, we are informed, was to 
proceed, and we fee it has begun to proceed, out of 
the bowels of the lyflem. The kings, or ftates, into 
which the fecular perfecuting power was divided, 
have begun to hate the PFhore, to eat her flefo^ and 
to burn her with fire. The ecclefiaftical perfecut- 
ing power is in a fair way to be foon deftroyed. The 
fecular perfecuting power is rapidly wafting itfelf^ 
and thut not the iefs becaufe of the prefent fplen- 
dour of one of its conftituent parts. The reign of 
the fpirits of deceit is exhibited in prophecy, as 
fhort, and the coming of Chrift to deftroy them, 
as fudden, unexpeded, and dreadful. The wafte 
of mankind, and the deftruflion of happinefs in 
Catholic countries, have already exceeded all ex- 
ample, and outftripped ail calculation. The de- 
ception of the kings, that is, the kingdoms, or 
ftates, of the earth has already refembled a prodigy ; 
and the hoftilities againft- Almighty God have al- 
ready tortured human belief. Principles and con- 
du6l, like thcfe, cannot be of long duration ; they 
would empty the earth of mankind, and lay the 
world in ruins j yet fome time muft doubtlefs 
clapfe before this abomination of defolation fliall be 
finiftied. 

An end however v/ill arrive. Let us turn our 
eyes from .this Arabian defart, where no fountains 
of confolation flow, and no moral verdure fprings, 
to cheer the weary traveller, and explore regions of 
a brighter afpefb, and feafons of a more delightful 
character. 'Fhe time will arrive, when the creator 
of all things will be acknowledged and loved, and 
the Redeemer of mankind believed and obeyed. 
Falfliood will not always be preferred to truth, nor 
fin to hulinefs. The period is on the wing in which 



40 

"the knowledge of the Lord fhall fill the earth, 
as the waters fill the fea ;" and in which " holinefs 
to the Lord ihall be written" on all the purf^jits 
and enjoyments of mankind. " The Lord of 
Hofts will, one day, make unto all people a feaft; 
of fat things full of marrow, a"*fra{l of wines on the 
lees well refined. He will deftroy the face of the 
covering, that h caft over all people, and the vail, 
that is fpread over all nations ; v/iil wipe away tears 
from all faces, and take away the reproach of his 
people from all the earth." Another fun, rolling 
around the great Centurial year will, not improba- 
bly, have fcarcely finiflied his progrefs, when he 
ihall fee the Jew *' no more haughty becaufe of the 
holy mountain," but " reingrafted into the olive, 
from which he was broken off." " The ftandard 
Hiall be exalted, the enfign ihall be fet up, to which 
the outcails of Ifrael fliall gather, and thedifperfed 
of Judah aiTemble, from the four corners of the 
earth." " The reception of them" into the king- 
dom of Chrift '• fhall prove" to all nations " as life 
from the dead ;" as a general refurreftion from the 
grave. There is now indeed, and for fome time 
may continue to be, ''a. tumultuous noife of the 
kingdoms of the nations gathered together, becaufe 
the Lord of Hofts muflereth the hoft to the bat- 
tle." ^^ Nation now rifes againft nation, and king- 
dom againft kingdom." *' Great earthquakes" 
have exifted '* in diverfe places, and famines, and 
peflilences, and fearful fights, and great figns from 
heaven; and on the earth difirefs of nations, with 
perplexity, the fea and the waves roaring : Men's 
hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after 
thofe things which fnail lliortly come upon the 
earth." 

Let us dill " in patience poiTcfs our fouls ;" 
" for yet a little while, and the indignation (hall be 
overpaft." The Church of God fnall foon "awake 
and put on ftrength, and be clothed with beautiful 



4* 

^ifrmcnts :" "Peace fhall then be extcnoeci uj ft^*, 
as a river, and the glory of the Gentiles as a flow- 
ing dream." " A little one fhall become a thouf- 
and, and a CmaM one a ftrong nation" "The 
Name and the Praifc of God," the acknowledgment 
of the Redeemer, and the " fi\ith, baptifm, and 
woriliip," of his followers, " fhall be one, from the 
rifing of the fun to the going down of the fame :'* 
" and the Canaanite fhall no more be found in the 
houfe of the Lord of Hofts." 

In that c'.-;: "the iron rod of the opprefTor 
ihall be broken," " the confufed noife of the bat- 
tle of the warrior ceale," " the haughtinefs of man 
Ihall be brought down j the lowly fliall be exalted j'* 
and the Lord of Hofts will be a flrength to the 
poor, a flrength to the needy in his diftrefs."— 
"Darknefs fliall then be no more put for light nor 
light for darknefs ;" the lantern of vifionary phi- 
jofophy fhall ceafe to lead mankind aftray from the 
highway of holinefs ; the fcriptures " fhall be their 
everlafling light, and the Author of them their glo- 
ry." 

But while we look forward with faith, confo- 
lation, and tranfport, to rifing periods of order, 
peace, and fafety ; in which truth fhall triumph, 
juflice prefideover the concerns of men, and mercy 
pity and affuage the fufferings of this agonizing 
world J while we forefee fcafons of general happi- 
nefs and univerfal virtue, a vernal growth of moral 
beauty, and an autumnal harvefl of converts to ho- 
linefs ; while the eye travels onward through a new 
era in the univcrfe of man, and beholds a rebellious 
world voluntarily refuming its alltrgiancc to the 
Creator, the great family of Adam acknowledged 
as the children, God declaring himfelf the common 
Father, and the eardi confefTedly the temple, in 
which he is loved, obeyed, and worfhipped j wc 
cannot fiil to revert to tlie "troublous times," 

F 



42 



which are now revolving. The foul irrefiftibly re- 
turns to furvey the fins and errors, which rage 
around us, the temptations which alarm, enfnare, 
and feduce, and the mileries which are refounded 
from a fuffering world. In this fituation it inftind- 
ively aflcs, How Ihall thefe evils be averted from 
ourrelves and ours ? 

This quedion is now in truth afked, with 
ftrong emotions, and many forebodings, by the 
great Body of people in New England ; and is felt 
to involve the peace, freedom, and fafety, the mor- 
als, religion, and immortal welfare, of themfelves 
and their children. The mind is awake, the heart 
is alarmed j anxiety is on the wing^ and the fpirit of 
foreboding looks through the eye with melancholy 
fufpenfe and agitation. Suffer mc then in the in- 
dulgence of iman-ination to alfemble here this vaft 
multitude, to view them as already gathered around 
me, and to addrefs to them, as to you, an anfwer 
to this folemn enquiry. 

My Friends and Brethren, 

In all the changes, v/hich have befallen our 
native country, the interpofitions of divine provi- 
dence in its behalf have been wonderful. Think, 
if you are at a iofs on this fubjed:, of the manner, 
in which God bare your fathers to this land on ea- 
gles wings y zx\&^!kept them in the hollo-w of his hand, 
Recal their numerous deliverances from the lavages, 
and from the more bitter enemies who fpurred thofc 
favages to war and (laughter. Remember their 
wonderful prefervation from the armament of Che- 
buftoj completed on the night of that folem.a day, 
when with fafting and fupplication they lifted up 
their united hands to implore the falvation of their 
God. Who gave the artillery of your enemies in- 
to the hands of Manly ; and their ammunition into 
thofe of Mugford ? Who furrendcred lo you the ar- 
my of Burgoyne ? WHio in fpite of pretended friends^ 



45 

more malignant than open enemies, eftabliflied on 
folid grounds your independence and your peace ; 
and Jet your feet in a htoad place -, a poflefiion rich, 
fecure, and immenfe ? Who has filled your veins 
with health, and your garners with all manner offiore? 
Who has filled your land with ceiled hou/es, adorned 
it with fchools, and enlightened it with innumera- 
ble churches ? 

A WORK, thus begun, and thus carried on, is 
its own proof, that it will not be relinquifhed. We 
may be fcourged, for we merit it, but I truft we 
fhall not be forfaken ; we may be caft down, but we 
Ihall not be dejiroyed. The piefent unufual and 
glorious prevalence of religion is tlie hand of God, 
writing on the zvall, that we are not yet Jiumbered 
and finijhed. 

Would you then be fafe, while all nations are 
fifted with the fteve of vanity ; would you hide in 
fecret chambers until the indignation be overpafi ^ 
Learn your duty, and your fafety, in the memora- 
ble advice of Jchofhaphat, the iJIuftrious prince of 
Judah, to his own people, in a feafon of more im- 
mediate peril : " Believe en the Lord your God, Jo 
jhall ye be ejlablifhed; believe his prophets j Jo fioall 
ye proJperT 

Your ancefiors, who preeminently obeyed this 
council, and found the promife daily verified to 
them, who leaned alway on the arm of Ctod, and 
v/alked in the funfliine of the fcriptures, laid here 
fiich foundations of human happinefs, under his 
guidance, as were probably never laid elfewhere. 
In their eftablifliment of rational freedom, juit 
government, and perfecl^l order, in their fchools and 
their colleges, their churches and their worfhip, 
their exemplary life and their fervent prayers, they 
lefc a glorious inlieritance toj<j«. On this ftock you 
have lived, and become rich i and the fund, though 



44 

impaired by wafte and negligence, is ftill large. 
Wantonly fquandeied, it may indeed vanifh in a 
year ; but, carefully hufbanded, it will laft for ages. 
Would you provide for your children, as they pro- 
vided for you ; would you fecure the favour and 
bleflings of God ; would you efcape the woes, de- 
nounced and executed on an unbelieving and pro- 
fligate world i imbibe their fpirit, and follow their 
example. 

At the Pirefide, in the fireet, in the court of 
juftice, and in the legiflature, be, and be feen to be, 
the friends and followers of God. La jour conver- 
Jaiion be Juch as becometh godtinejs \ your example 
adorn the do5ir'me of God your Saviour ; your judicial 
diftributions be ditiributions of righteoufnefs and 
mercy J and your laws uphold and ftrengthen reli- 
gion and virtue, and break down the barriers, and 
lay open the retreats, of vice and impiety. Front 
the dav/n of life let your children be taught, both 
in the family and the fchool, to fear God, to trufl' 
the Redeemer, to hate iniquity, and to do that which 
is good. Teach them to read, to love, and to obey, 
the fcriptures ; to reverence magiftrates j to rile up 
to the hoary head j to venerate the fabbath ; and 
to worfhip in the fanduary. For this end, ejieem^ 
and fliew them tliac you efieem^ thejabbath a delight ^ 
and the Holy of the Lord honourable \ and let them 
iee that you turn away your f^et from finding your 
o^jsn ■pleajure on that day, '•Them that honour rne^ 
faith God, / will honour i but isshojo deffijeth me 
Jhall be lightly efleemed. 

In your daily intercourfe, recal the probity, 
fairnefs, and good will of your forefathers j their 
enlarged charity to the poor, the fick, and the 
friendlefs ; and their principled refped: and obedi- 
ence to the laws of the land. Unlearn, yourfeives, 
and unteach your children, the fenfelefs do<5lrines, 
that no man is honeit ; that office makes an honeft 
man a villain j thac men, whom you have long and 



thoroughly tried and approved, are for that vcty 
reafon to be marked with jealoufy, and hunted with 
ilander. Remember, that it is equally a fin, and 
a lliame, a debafemenc of common fenfe, and an 
infuk to God, to/peak evil, without caufe, againji 
the Rulers of your -people j and ceafe to beii'^ve it an 
cafy, or probable, thing for thole rulers to opprefs 
you, when the fame laws mufi equally opprefs 
themfelves. 

In the mean time, let me folcmnly warn you, 
that if you intend to accomplifa any thing, if you 
mean not to labour in "vainj and lo Jp end your fir ength 
for noughty you muft take your fide. There can be 
here no halting between two opinions. You muft 
marfhal yourfelvcs, finally, in your own defenfe, 
and in the defenfe of all that is dear to you. You 
muft meet face to face the bands of disorder, of 
fallhood, and of fm. Betv/een them and you there 
is, there can be, no natural, real, or kiling harm.o- 
ny. IVhat comri/iunry.i kath light '-joith darknfs ? 
i^hat concord hath Chrift "jcith Belial'^ or what part 
hiith he that btlieveth ivitb an Infidel ? From a con- 
nexion v/ith them what can you gain ? What will 
you not lofe ? Their neighbourhood is contagious; 
their friendfhip is a blaft; their communion is 
death. Will you imbibe their principles? Will 
you copy their practices ? Will you teach your 
children, that death is an eternal Ilccp ? that the 
end fanctifies the means ? that moral obligation is 
a dream ? Religion a f«rce ? and your Saviour the 
fpurious offspring of pollution? Will you fend 
your daughters abroad in the attiie of a female 
Greek ? Will you enrol your fons as confcripts for 
plunder and butchery? Willyou make marriage 
the mockery of a regiftcrs' office ? Will you become 
the rulers of Sodom, and the people of Gomorrha ? 
Shall your love to man vanilh in a word, and evap- 
orate on the tongue ? Shall it be loft in a tear, and 
perifli in a figh ? Will you enthrone a Goddefs of 
Kealba before the table of Chrift ? Will you burn 



46 

your Bibks ? Will you crucify anew your Redeem- 
er ? Will you deny your God ? 

Come out, therefore, from among them, and he 
ye feparate, faith the Lord, and touch 7wt the unclean 
thing ; and I will receive you, and will be a father 
io you : And ye floall be my Jons and daughters, faith 
the Lord Almighty » 

To this end you mud coolly, firmly, and irre- 
vocably make your determination, and refolve, that 
Jehovah is your God, and that you will ferve him on- 
ly. His enemies are the enemies of yourfelves, and 
of your children; of your peace, liberty, and hap- 
pineis ; of your religion, virtue, and falvation. — 
Their principles abhor ; their pradices detefl. Be- 
fore your fteady indignation, and firm contempt, 
they will fall of courfe. No falHiood can bear the 
fudbeams of truth ; no vice can withftand the ftea- 
dy current of virtue. The motives to this oppofi- 
tion are infinite. Your all, your children's all, is 
at ftake. If you contend manfully, you will be 
more than conquerors ; if you yield, both you and 
they are undone. You are endeared by a thoufand 
ties. Your common country is a la'nd of milk and 

*honey : In it a thoufand churches are vocal with the 
praife of your Creator; and four thoufand fchoois 
receive your children to their bofom, and nurfe 

. them to wifdom and piety. In this country you 
all fprang from one ftock, fpeak one language, have 
one fyftem of manners, profefs one religion, and 
wear one charader. Your laws, your inftitutions, 
your interefts, are one. No mixture weakens, no 
Itrangers divide, you. Tou have fought and bled, 
your fathers have fought and died, together. To- 
gether they worlhipped God ; together they fate 
around the table of the Redeemer ; together they 
afcended to heaven ; and together they now unite in 
the glorious concert of eternal praife. . With fuch 
an intereft at hazard, with fuch bonds of union, 



47 

with fuch examples, you cannot feparatc ; you can- 
not fear. 

Let me at the fame time warn you, that your 
cnqnies are numerous, induftrious, and daring, fiil* 
of fubtlety, and full of zeal. Nay, Ibme of them 
are your own brethren, and endeared to you by all 
the ties of nature. The conteft is, therefore, fraught 
with hazard and alarm. Were it a waY of arms, 
you would have little to dread. It is a war of arts j 
of temptations ; of enchantments ; a war againfi 
the magicians of Egypt : in which no weapons will 
avail, but " the rod of God." In this conteft you, 
may he left alone. Fear not ; " they that be for you 
will even then be more than they that are againfi: 
you." Almighty power will proteft. Infinite wif- 
dom v/ill guide, and Unchangeable goodnefs will 
profper, you. The Chriftian world rifes daily In 
prayer to heaven for your faithfulnefs and fuccefs; 
the hoft of fleeping faints calls to you from the 
grave, and bids you God fpeed. The fpirits of 
your fathers lean from yonder fkies to furvey the 
conflift, and your children of many generations, 
will rifi up, and call you blejjed. 



NOTES, 



Note A. 

THE oppofers of Robifon and Barruel originally 
contended againft their accounts of llluminifm with ve- 
hemence, becaufe they confidered the fociety of Free 
Mafous as iniplicuted. When they were reminded, that 
neither of thefe writers had given the leaft ground for 
this opinion, fo far as the Maions on the ancient fyftem 
were concerned, they qucftioned the poffible exiftence ot 
fuch depravity, and denied its credibility. As every 
man, at all verled in the hiftory of human nature, difcern- 
ed at a glance the futility of this objedlion, and as the 
enormities pra6lii'ed in France refuted all f^ntiments of 
this nature, and rendered credible every thing which in- 
genuity can contrive, or the hands execute ; they next 
attacked the chara6ler of the writers, and particularly 
that of Profeflbr Robifon. This ground was certainly 
taken with more Ikill. The gentleman, fortunately for 
them, lived. at the diftance of three thoufand miles, and 
every calumny, heaped upon him, would therefore have 
its full efFedl before dire6l teftimony could be brought to 
prove it to be a calumny ; and moft of thofe, who read 
the calumny, would never read, nor even fee, the refuta- 
tion. Multitudes would thus be finally perfuaded, that 
Mr. Robifon was a diflioneft man, and would certainly 
believe his account falfe, whatever evidence might fup- 
port it. In this attack feveral letters from Profeffor 
Ebeling have been produced. On thefe letters, both as 
ftaining the reputation of Profeflbr Robilbn, and as ren- 
dering improbable the accounts given of llluminifm, much 
reliance has been placed. This reliance however feems 
to be weak and infccurc. 

In the firft place, Profeffor Ebeling's chara<5ler as 
an honeft man is wholly unknown and uncertain. For 
ought that appears he may himfelf be an lUuiiiinee, or a 
Jacobin. Should either of thefe be the fa6l, his teftimo- 
ny is foreclofed and deftroyed of courfe. Every perfon, 
acquainted with thefe clailes of men, knows that fallhood 
is a prime ingredient of their fyftem, and that without it 
that f)'ftem tould not ftand a day. A prime part of iilu- 
nunifm is to deny the exiftence of lUuminii'm ; a firft fea- 
ture of Jacobinifr* is to deny everv dangerous do<^iiae 

G 



and effort of Jacobins. Strange as k may appear, ttiis 
deteftable pra6lice, after immenfe deteclions, ftill fuc- 
ceeds with great multitudes. 

2. If Profeffor Ebeling be an honeft man, he may be 
an enthufiaft for liberty and equality. In this cafe, al- 
though his integrity were unimpeachable, the foundnefs 
of his judgment might be juftly called in queilion. The 
enthufiai'm on this fubjecl has proceeded to lengths full 
as great as thofe to which religious enthufiafm has at any 
time proceeded ; and the extravagancies of opinion and 
practice which it has adopted, the fallhoods which it has 
iwallowed, and the crimes which it has connmitted, may 
be fairly fet againll any, attributed to any former enthu- 
liafra. This ftate of mind is a difeafe, and unfoi'tunately 
it may, and does, lay hold even on learned and ingenious 
men. In this cafe no judgment remains found ; no evi- 
dence is fairly weighed. Every thing which contradi61;S 
its darling inclinations is difcarded at once, and every 
thins: which favours them admitted without examination 
or fcrjple. So true, and fo acknowledged, is this fenti- 
ment, that in religious cafes the opinions and teftimony of 
enthuliafts are fet afide of courfe, and allowed by all par- 
ties to be of no weight, fo far as their enthufiafm is con- 
cerned. In the prefent cafe our dccifion ought to be 
precifely the fame. , 

3. All other teftimony concerning the prefent ftate 
of literature and morals in Germany confpires to fliew, 
that the pinnciples of the lUuminees refpe6ling morality 
and religion have, for fubftance, an extenfivc prevalence 
in that country. From the philofophy of Kant to ^he 
plays of Kotzebue, their publications appear to be formed 
to difFufe loofe principles, and to unhinge the morals and 
religion of the fcriptures. 

4. jMen of high reputation in Great Britain appear, 
without any dilTenfion, to have agreed in their opinions 
on this fiijjjecl. Ample teftimony of their confidence in 
thefe accounts of Illuminifm has been given by many 
fuch men, and to the charadler of the authors. The fol- 
lowing teftimony from the Charge, delivered by the pre- 
fent Bilhop of London to the Clergy of his diocefc, in the 
years 1798, and 1799, may, I think, be confidered as 
complete, and as amply refuting all that has been alleged 
on the eppofite fide. I need not add, that this gentle- 
man's chara6lcr for talents as well as integrity will not 
be queftioned. Referring to liis charge, delivered at th« 
preceding vifttation, the Bifrncp lay?, 



51 

" At that time, however, I v/as not aware (and few 
j»eople I beheve in this country were) bow deep the foun- 
dations of this fyftem vv^ere laid, and how widely the 
principles and the projedls of thefe adventurers were dif- 
fufed. It now appears from undoubted evidence^ collcSIed 
from the most authentic sources^ and prodiiced about the 
fame time by ti\)o different authors^ of differ ent countries 
and different religions^ and 'wriiing ivithout the least con- 
cert cr comrrainication iviih each other ^ that there has 
(have) in fa6l fubfifted in the heart of Europe uertain 
Teds of men, diflhiguiflied by various fanciful Fiames and 
various myflei'ious i*ites and ceremonies, but all concur- 
ing in one common obje6l, namely, the gradual overthrow 
not merely of all religion, but of all civil government and 
all focial order throughout the whole Chriftian world. 
This difign thev had been carrying on with incredible in- 
duftry and perfeverance in various ways for a long ccurfe 
of years j ibme openly attacking the great dukvarks of 
morality and religion^ others secretly undermining their 
foundations.) till at length the explosiofi burst out instant- 
aneously on one devoted country y arid the full effeSls of 
its concentrated force loerefelt at once in the total subver- 
sion of a great empire.^ and the extirpation of the national 
faith:' 

5. The fa6l, mentioned in this quotation, viz. that 
thefe authors wrote independently of each other, with- 
out concert or communication, is a proof of the truth of 
their accounts. A cafual coincidence in things 10 com- 
plicated is a plain impoffibility. 

6. After all that has been faid, the chief proof of the 
truth of thefe accounts is found in the declarations of 
Weiihaupt himfelf and his aflbciates. The confelTion of 
the party againft himfelf is the higheft proof, and is fo 
admitted in every court of jiiftice. The fubftancc of all 
that is alleged concerning Illununifm is acknowledged 
Abundantly by the Illuminecs. Out of the mouths uf 
thefe wicked men they are to be judged. Tliis proof no 
teftirnony can leiTen, unlefs it can be Ihcv/n either that 
the writings attributed to them are forgei'ies, or that 
they have been wilfully corrupted by the traitiflators.— 
The firft of thefe improbable pofitions is clearly removed 
by the v/ritings thcmfelves ; for no modern writings wear 
more marks of genuinenefs ; and both are deftroyed by 
the confideration of the certain and immediate dete^lion 
sf the viilainv. 

* Barrutl and Robifon. 



It ought to be added, that thefe gentlemen are, (o 
far as my knowledge extends, uniformly fpoken of in 
Great Britain by writers of unqueftionable credit, 
"With refpe6l and approbation. Kere they both live, and 
are therefore perfedlly well known. Here, therefore, 
their true chara6ler is to be found. Here Mr. Robifon 
has been employed as a principal writer in the Biitifti 
Encyclopaedia, and is diredlly mentioned by Doctor Gleig 
as a man of the firfb rei'peclability ; here he holds a pro- 
fefforfhip in a Univerfity of high rank, and I'uftains the 
office or Secretary to a Literary Society of great reputa- 
tion ; the Royal Society of Edinburgli. 

It ought ever to be remembered, that it is an open 
d©6lrine of Illuminifm, to deny the whole or any part of 
the iyllem, and any facl relating to it ; that a regard to 
trath is not even pretended ; and that the mcft dctella- 
bie of ail tenets, namely, tibat the end sanSlions the means^ 
is one of the fundamental principles of the fyflen-i.— - 
From thefe men nothinc^ can be believed without other 

O 

evidence befide their own teftimony. 

P. S. Since the note, above, was finiflied, a friend 
put into my hand a letter from Mr. Jam.es Walker, 
a refpe^labJe inhabitant of Great Britain, to Profeffor 
Boettigger, of Weimar in Germany ; publiflied in the 
Mercury of that city, April 1800. It was written in 
anfwer to fome very fevere afperfions on Mr. Robifon by 
Mr. Boe'ttigger ; and fuch was the chara6ler of the writer, ' 
and fuch the weight of his teftimony, that Mr. Bcettig- 
ger amply as well as honourably retra6led his afperfions. 

The following extra^l will completely fliew the char- 
acter, which Profeffor Robifon bears in his own country. 

*' There are few men in Europe poffefied of a found- 
er judgment or of more extenfive acquirements than Mr. 
Robifon. In mathematics and natural philofophy he has 
very few equals, whether we confider the depth of his 
knowledge or the ability v/ith which he applies it to the 
ufeful arts of life. In moral fcience he does not indeed, 
admire the labours ©f Kant, and even thinks fome of his 
principles, and, perhaps, their general tendency, danger- 
ous ; but he is intimately acquainted with that fcience, 
as it has long been taught by the ableft men in England, 
and it ought not to hurt the vanity even of a German and 
a Kancift, if Englifhmen ftill fuppofe that their own dif- 
tinguiflied moralifts and metaphyficians have not been en- 
tirely fools. In this age of infidelity he is not aftiamed 



55 

to profefs himfelf a Chviftian ; and he boldjy and ably 
contends that ignorance (the want of accnrate obferva- 
tion and of ji.ft and general views of nature and of provi- 
dence) and vice are the great caufes of the Infidelity of 
the prefent day, and that they who pretend to be Athe- 
ifts on principles of Icience, will be found, on examina- 
tion, to be n-erefmatterers, whofe whole knowledge con- 
fifts in a few idle phrafcs, which, utteicd with the nccef- 
fary gravity and confidence, attradl the notice of the idle 
and run away with the admiration of the diffipated. Pro- 
fefibr Kobifon has travelled through the chief countries 
of Europe, has been in America, and has viewed, with a 
philofophic eye, the various modes of life, which the dif- 
ferent countries he has vilited exhibit: he is acquainted 
with tht mofl important languages, ancient and modern j 
is a man ot unblemiflied honour, and in every refpedl 
xvhat we, in England, call a gentleman. Inftead of be- 
ing an enemy, as you have pofitively afl'erted, of all the 
good heads of Europe, a patron of folly, and a fanatic, 
there is no where a more ardent friend of real fcience 
and of true libert)'^ ; as any man, indeed, who ferioufly 
reads the book agaiuft which you are fo highly prejudiced, 
provided he has any precife notions of fcience and of true 
liberty himfelf, will m.oft readily clifcover and acknowl- 
edge. Nor is this the exaggerated praife of a friend ; no 
one who knows Mr. Robifon, as I have known him, and 
as he is almcfl univerfally known in Britain, Vvfill dare to 
call it in queftion. The Englifli Jacobins, the flanderous 
authors of the Monthly Magazine^ and of the Analytical 
Rcv'woi^ and of other fimilar publications, (which are of- 
ten alike devoid of truth and modefty) never fell into a 
more egregious folly, than by treating Mr. Robifon as 
you alfo have done, as an enemy to fcience and to liberty, 
as nothing more clearly proves that their clamours refult 
not from the love of true fcience and of rational liberty, 
but from a defire of univerfal innovation after the Frenck 
model in philofophy and in politics. 

" Mr. Robifon has in his book very fnnply and can- 
didly related the accidental circumftances which led him 
to the knowledge of the Illuminati, and the views with 
which he publiflied what he had difcovered ; and every 
impartial man who ferioufly reads what he has written 
will certainly account thofe views honourable. In eve- 
ry part of his book he exhibits himfelf, what he really is, 
as the ardent friend of true fcience, of rational religion, 
and of genuine liberty, and direils all Uis attacks only 



il 

agalnft philofophjr, falfely io called, againft thofe viho^ 
pretending to be wifer than their neighbours, wifh to 
perfuade us to live as without God in the world ; and 
againft *thofe who, with the words liberty, philanthropy, 
moderation, &c. -eyer in their mouths, promote only li^ 
icentioufnefsj rapine, and murder." 



Note B. 

Two things will be probably, and not unnaturally, 
©bje<5l€d to thel'e obfervations. One is, that these Inji' 
dels are the dircci enemies andopposcrs of the Hierarchy ; 
and the other, that their persecution has fallen principal' 
ly on the Catholics^ and not on the Protestants. 

The former of thefc obje£lions will be eafily obvia- 
ted. The kings^ or ftates, who, it is faid, shall hate the 
Whore (another name of the fame fyftem) and eat her 
fiesb^ and burn her 'voithfire^2i.vt exhibited, alio, as the di- 
rect enemies and oppoiers of the Hierarchy ; yet they 
are plainly marked as great conftituent parts of the fyfi- 
lem. Of courfe, the prefent oppolition and enmity of 
Infidels to the Hierarchy is perfe6lly confiftent with the 
do6lrine, that they are neverthelefs eiiential and promi- 
nent parts of the fame fyftem. In this there is nothing 
uncommon. Many other kingdoms, and fyftems, have 
been divided againft themfelves, and ftill have purfued 
the lame great obje6l in different methods. 

Nor is the latter objedlion attended with any more 
difficulty. It is true, that the perfecution of modern In- 
fidels has fallen principally on the Catholics, and not on 
the Protcftants ; and it is equally true, that they have 
not perfecuted them at all as Catholics, but merely as 
Christians. They themfelves have often told us their 
real defign. They have ridiculed, denied, and decried 
Religion as such ; and not as the Catholic system ; and 
have fought and butchered the Catholic foldiers, and 
people, as the Armies and adherents of fcsus, by name. 
Whom have they perfecuted in form ? The men, who had 
too much confcience, principle, and piety, to perjure them- 
felves, and deny their Saviour ; not the men, who pub- 
licly apoftatizing from Chriftianity, and perjirring them- 
felves, ftill retained, profeffedly, the name of Catholics, 
and the title of Clergymen. The religion, the piety, of 
thefe men conftituted the crime, for which they died ; 
i*ot ths character of Catholics, Accordingly the perfe- 



^5 



cution has fallen indifcriminately on Proteftsnts as wcH 
as Catlioiics ; not fo often, bccaufe there were not fo ma- 
ny of them ; but never the leJ's, bccaufe they were.prottf- 
tants. This diftin6lion was invented hcre^ and by us / 
and was not fo much as thought of by themfelvcs. 

To what, let me afk, is Iiifideliiy oppofed? To 
Chriftiunity. Againft what are all its arguments, arts, 
labours, violence, and perfecution, dire6lcd ? Ciniftlani- 
ty. What then is it oppofing ? Chriftlanity. No ii.fi- 
del ever thought oc making a di{lin6lion in favour of pro- 
tcftauts or of true religion; every infidel will laugh at 
thofe, who make it for him. 

Divines themfelves have, I fufpe6l, at times beeu 
too ready to confider every Catholic, as fuch, as being a 
part of this fyftem ; v/hereus the fyftem itfelf is formed 
merely of oppofition and enmity to true religion and the 
perfecution of its friends. Such Catholics, therefore, as 
have never cheriflied this oppofition and enmity, nor en- 
couraged this perfecution, are in no fenfe parts of the 
fyftem. Of this defcription, substantially^ are undoubt- 
edly all fuch Catholics, as are' the fubjecls of real piety, 
I know there are protefbants, and perhaps in this coun- 
try, who vvill, either not at all, or with great difficulty, 
admit any Catholics to be men of piety. But is not this 
a mere prejudice ? Is it not the very thing, which we call 
Vigotry in tbem ? viz, limiting falvation to thei own 
church? Was not Fenelon, was not Rollin, a man of 
piety ? Have not great numbers of the French Clergy by 
yielding their lives, in preference to denying their Sav- 
iour and abjuring Chriftianity, proved themfelves to the 
eye of charity to be men of piety ? If they have not, I 
fear we (hall be left without one of the bell arguments 
%o prove that piety exifts. 

It may perhaps be thought, that I am become an ad- 
vocate for the churcii of Rome. Should itbefo thought, 
it will not be the legitimate confcquence of any tiling 
r/hich I have faid, but of the preconceptions of thofe, 
who think in this manner. The Hierarchy, as a preem- 
inent fyftem of oppofition to true religion, and of perfe- 
cution of the Church of Chrift, I have already exhibited, 
a; being the monftrous fyftem of wickcdnefs, denoted by 
the Beaft of the Apocalypfe ; and the fccular powers^ 
which have been coadjutors in this fyftom, as the mafs 
s»f wickedner3 denoted by the Dragon. The true mark 
of the Beaft is a voluntary cooperation ■xvitb this great dc- 
*igr : and n<^t Uic nwrrfrxsumptionofthen^mey Catholic, 



ERRATA. 



Pa^e 6, Line 13, from the top, and p. 7, 1. i, for Hey-' 
lin read Heylyn. 

7j 4, from the bottom, for 1800, read 1799, 

and for ninety read eigthy, 

31, 16, from the bottom, after fa^s read and 

arguments. 

2,8, 13, from the top, for hid read bidden. 

37, 3, from the bottom, for differnt read dif- 

ferent. 

43, II, from the bottom, for council read 

counsel. 



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